Pedal assembly with pyrotechnic release

Abstract

A pedal assembly actuates a rigid actuator of a functional system in a motor vehicle. The assembly comprises a mounting bracket having spaced apart support members defining a pedal receiving space. A pedal arm has a pedal pad and an actuator connector. A pair of retainer brackets are normally in a retaining position secured against front-rear movement. At least one pivot pin pivotally connects the proximal end of the pedal arm to the retainer brackets. A pyrotechnic actuator has an input for receiving an actuating signal and when triggered enables deformation of the retainer bracket to a releasing position wherein the retainer brackets permit the at least one pivot pin and the proximal end of the pedal arm to move rearwardly with respect to the mounting bracket. The pyrotechnic actuator may also be arranged with respect to a releasable connector to drive it for disconnection from the retainer brackets to permit the retainer brackets, the at least one pivot pin and the proximal end of the pedal arm to move rearwardly.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. A pedal assembly for actuating a rigid actuator of a functional system in a motor vehicle, comprising
 a mounting bracket for mounting the assembly in the vehicle, the mounting bracket having spaced apart support members defining a pedal receiving space therebetween; 
 a pedal arm having a pedal pad at a distal end thereof for engagement by a driver's foot, the pedal arm also having an actuator connector between the distal end and a proximal end for connection to the rigid actuator; 
 at least one support pin coupled to the mounting bracket; 
 a pair of retainer brackets on opposing sides of the proximal end of the pedal arm, each retainer bracket normally being in a retaining position retained on the at least one support pin against movement in a front-rear direction with respect to the mounting bracket; 
 at least one pivot pin pivotally connecting the proximal end of the pedal arm to the pair of retainer brackets; 
 a pyrotechnic actuator having an input for receiving an actuating signal to trigger the pyrotechnic actuator; 
 the pyrotechnic actuator being arranged with respect to the retainer brackets such that the pyrotechnic actuator when triggered enables deformation of the retainer brackets to a releasing position wherein the retainer brackets permit the at least one pivot pin and the proximal end of the pedal arm to move rearwardly with respect to the mounting bracket; 
 wherein the pyrotechnic actuator is mounted forwardly of the at least one support pin, the at least one pivot pin and the pedal arm for shielding the driver from pyrotechnic action thereof. 
 
     
     
       2. A pedal assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one pivot pin is a single pivot pin. 
     
     
       3. A pedal assembly, for actuating a rigid actuator of a functional system in a motor vehicle, comprising
 a mounting bracket for mounting the assembly in the vehicle, the mounting bracket having spaced apart support members defining a pedal receiving space therebetween; 
 a pedal arm having a pedal pad at a distal end thereof for engagement by a driver's foot, the pedal arm also having an actuator connector between the distal end and a proximal end for connection to the rigid actuator; 
 at least one support pin coupled to the mounting bracket; 
 a pair of retainer brackets on opposing sides of the proximal end of the pedal arm, each retainer bracket normally being in a retaining position retained on the at least one support pin against movement in a front-rear direction with respect to the mounting bracket; 
 at least one pivot pin pivotally connecting the proximal end of the pedal arm to the pair of retainer brackets; 
 a pyrotechnic actuator having an input for receiving an actuating signal to trigger the pyrotechnic actuator; 
 the pyrotechnic actuator being arranged with respect to the retainer brackets such that the pyrotechnic actuator when triggered enables deformation of the retainer brackets to a releasing position wherein the retainer brackets permit the at least one pivot pin and the proximal end of the pedal arm to move rearwardly with respect to the mounting bracket; 
 wherein each of the retainer brackets is configured such that, when the pyrotechnic actuator is triggered to enable deformation of the retainer brackets to the releasing position, the retainer brackets are released from the at least one support pin to permit the retainer brackets, the at least one pivot pin, and the proximal end of the pedal arm to move rearwardly with respect to the mounting bracket. 
 
     
     
       4. A pedal assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein each retainer bracket has a slot extending in the front-rear direction, and each slot has a wider support pin location for retaining the retainer brackets on the at least one support pin in the retaining position thereof. 
     
     
       5. A pedal assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein the slot of each support bracket also has a wider pivot pin location for retaining the at least one pivot pin, the pivot pin locations being positioned rearward of the support pin locations. 
     
     
       6. A pedal assembly according to  claim 4 , further comprising a releasable connector connected to slot defining portions on opposing sides of the slot of each retainer bracket to secure the slot defining portions against deformation separating from one another to retain the retaining brackets on the at least one support pin, the releasable connector being positioned to be driven by the pyrotechnic actuator when triggered such that the releasable connector disconnects from the retainer brackets to enable the slot defining portions of each retainer bracket to deform and separate from one another to the releasing position for widening of the slots to release the retainer brackets from the at least one support pin to permit the retainer brackets, the at least one pivot pin, and the proximal end of the pedal arm to move rearwardly with respect to the mounting bracket. 
     
     
       7. A pedal assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein the at least one support pin is a single support pin. 
     
     
       8. A pedal assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein the pyrotechnic actuator is mounted between the support pin and the releasable connector. 
     
     
       9. A pedal assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein the pyrotechnic actuator is mounted between the at least one support pin and the releasable connector. 
     
     
       10. The pedal assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein each slot has an open forward end. 
     
     
       11. A pedal assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein each slot defining portion has a forward end thereof extending through a corresponding opening in the releasable connector to secure the slot defining portions against deformation, each forward end having a flange for retaining the releasable connector thereon, wherein the releasable connector when driven forwardly by the pyrotechnic actuator deforms the flanges to disconnect the releasable connector from the retainer brackets. 
     
     
       12. A pedal assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein the releasable connector is a plate. 
     
     
       13. A pedal assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein the at least one support pin is a single support pin. 
     
     
       14. A pedal assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein the pyrotechnic actuator is mounted between the support pin and the releasable connector. 
     
     
       15. A pedal assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein each retainer bracket has a forward end thereof extending through a corresponding opening in the releasable connector to secure the slot defining portions against deformation. 
     
     
       16. A pedal assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein the releasable connector is a plate. 
     
     
       17. A pedal assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein the at least one support pin is a single support pin. 
     
     
       18. A pedal assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein the pyrotechnic actuator is mounted between the support pin and the releasable connector. 
     
     
       19. A pedal assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein each forward end has at least one flange for retaining the releasable connector thereon, wherein the releasable connector when driven forwardly by the pyrotechnic actuator deforms the flanges to disconnect the releasable connector from the retainer brackets. 
     
     
       20. A pedal assembly according to  claim 19 , wherein the releasable connector is a plate. 
     
     
       21. A pedal assembly according to  claim 19 , wherein the at least one support pin is a single support pin. 
     
     
       22. A pedal assembly according to  claim 21 , wherein the pyrotechnic actuator is mounted between the support pin and the releasable connector. 
     
     
       23. A pedal assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein the releasable connector is a plate. 
     
     
       24. A pedal assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein the at least one support pin is a single support pin. 
     
     
       25. A pedal assembly for actuating a rigid actuator of a functional system in a motor vehicle, comprising
 a mounting bracket for mounting the assembly in the vehicle, the mounting bracket having spaced apart support members defining a pedal receiving space therebetween; 
 a pedal arm having a pedal pad at a distal end thereof for engagement by a driver's foot, the pedal arm also having an actuator connector between the distal end and a proximal end for connection to the rigid actuator; 
 a pair of retainer brackets on opposing sides of the proximal end of the pedal arm; 
 a releasable connector connecting forward ends of the retainer brackets to secure the retainer brackets normally against movement in a front-rear direction with respect to the mounting bracket; 
 at least one pivot pin pivotally connecting the proximal end of the pedal arm to the pair of retainer brackets; 
 a pyrotechnic actuator having an input for receiving an actuating signal to trigger the pyrotechnic actuator; 
 the pyrotechnic actuator being arranged with respect to the releasable connector such that the pyrotechnic actuator when triggered drives the releasable connector to disconnect from the retainer brackets to permit the retainer brackets, the at least one pivot pin and the proximal end of the pedal arm to move rearwardly with respect to the mounting bracket. 
 
     
     
       26. A pedal assembly for actuating a rigid actuator of a functional system in a motor vehicle, comprising
 a mounting bracket for mounting the assembly in the vehicle, the mounting bracket having spaced apart support members defining a pedal receiving space therebetween; 
 a pedal arm having a pedal pad at a distal end thereof for engagement by a driver's foot, the pedal arm also having an actuator connector between the distal end and a proximal end for connection to the rigid actuator; 
 a pair of retainer brackets on opposing sides of the proximal end of the pedal arm; 
 a pair of restraining connectors connecting forward ends of the retainer brackets to secure the retainer brackets normally against movement in a front-rear direction with respect to the mounting bracket; 
 at least one pivot pin pivotally connecting the proximal end of the pedal arm to the pair of retainer brackets; 
 a pyrotechnic actuator having an input for receiving an actuating signal to trigger the pyrotechnic actuator; 
 the pyrotechnic actuator being arranged with respect to the pair of restraining connectors such that the pyrotechnic actuator when triggered permits movement of the pair of restraining connectors apart from one another to permit the pair of retainer brackets, the at least one pivot pin and the proximal end of the pedal arm to move rearwardly with respect to the mounting bracket. 
 
     
     
       27. A pedal assembly according to  claim 26 , wherein the pair of retainer brackets each comprise a pair of slot defining portions, wherein the movement of the pair of restraining connectors apart from one another further permits vertical separation of each of the pairs of slot defining portions. 
     
     
       28. A pedal assembly according to  claim 27 , further comprising at least one support pin coupled to the mounting bracket, each retainer bracket normally being secured on the at least one support pin against movement in the front-rear direction with respect to the mounting bracket;
 wherein the pair of restraining connectors is positioned to be released by a movable portion of the pyrotechnic actuator when triggered such that the restraining connectors move apart from one another to enable the slot defining portions of each retainer bracket to deform and separate from one another to a releasing position for widening of the slots to release the retainer brackets from the at least one support pin to permit the retainer brackets, the at least one pivot pin, and the proximal end of the pedal arm to move rearwardly with respect to the mounting bracket. 
 
     
     
       29. A pedal assembly according to  claim 27 , wherein the pair of retainer brackets further comprises at least one end-stop. 
     
     
       30. A pedal assembly according to  claim 29 , wherein the at least one end-stop restricts rearward movement of the at least one pivot pin to permit a level of pedal functionality after the pyrotechnic actuator has been triggered. 
     
     
       31. A pedal assembly according to  claim 30 , wherein the rearward movement of the at least one pivot pin is restricted to a total rearward displacement no greater than a predetermined distance. 
     
     
       32. A pedal assembly according to  claim 31 , wherein the predetermined distance is proportional to the distance between the at least one end-stop and the pair of restraining connectors before the pyrotechnic actuator is triggered. 
     
     
       33. A pedal assembly according to  claim 27 , wherein each of the restraining connectors comprises an aperture. 
     
     
       34. A pedal assembly according to  claim 33 , wherein the pyrotechnic actuator comprises a movable portion, wherein the movable portion is disposed inside the aperture of each of the restraining connectors in an installed configuration, wherein triggering the pyrotechnic actuator permits movement of the pair of restraining connectors apart from one another by removing the movable portion of the actuator from the aperture of each of the restraining connectors. 
     
     
       35. A pedal assembly according to  claim 34 , wherein each of the restraining connectors further comprises an interior surface, wherein the movement of the restraining connectors apart from one another is restricted past a point where both of the interior surfaces are substantially aligned.